‘It is not fair’: Ripon MP Martha Haylett hits out at emergency services tax

The Allan government’s controversial levy has come under fire from a sitting Labor MP whose scathing social media post has sparked a war of words.

A Labor MP has sensationally gone off script and publicly slammed the Allan government’s controversial emergency services tax, claiming it is “unfair”.

Regional MP Martha Haylett – who holds the seat of Ripon in the state’s west – took to social media to criticise the levy which will disproportionately hurt farmers, many of whom she represents.

In a scathing Facebook post on Wednesday night, Ms Haylett said she had returned from parliament and arrived home to “hungry livestock and struggling farmers”.

Ms Haylett revealed she had been “directly lobbying” her government to fix the levy, adding that amendments that were made two weeks “don’t go far enough”.

Ripon MP Martha Haylett criticised the levy, which will disproportionately hurt farmers. Picture: Supplied

“I have spoken directly to the Treasurer and Premier to make them aware of my community’s views,” she wrote.

“It is clear the way this levy has been calculated has a disproportionate impact on farmers.

“It is not fair and I will keep fighting to fix it.”

While the post was criticised by some colleagues, several MPs noted it had been liked by minister, Colin Brooks.

Others, however, told the Herald Sun it wasn’t appropriate to publicly bag the government.

“Being an MP is not a popularity contest and sometimes hard decisions are made that impact communities. But publicly slagging off the government to which you are a part of is not a good look,” one MP, speaking anonymously, said.

Thousands of farmers and volunteer firefighters have rallied against the tax. Picture: David Caird

Another described the post as “very bold” and “out of the ordinary”.

Ms Haylett was also criticised by her own constituents because she voted in support of the levy increase given Labor MPs must vote with the government on every piece of legislation.

“Why didn’t you cross the floor and vote against this tax? Bring on next year’s election,” one person wrote.

“Not good enough. You voted for this tax and trying to back-pedal doesn’t cut it. Next election you are gone,” another added.

One woman said: “What a hypocrite you are!”

Ms Haylett’s ultra marginal electorate includes the towns of Ararat, Beaufort, Charlton, Maryborough and Creswick, and borders Jacinta Allan’s seat of Bendigo East.

Ms Haylett represents the electorate next door to Jacinta Allan’s seat.

She won the seat off former Liberal MP Louise Staley at the 2022 election, but there is a view among Labor insiders that the party won’t retain it in 2026.

The Allan government has for weeks faced intense pressure for replacing the Fire Services Property Levy with the expanded Emergency Services Volunteer Fund in a bid to raise an extra $2bn over four years.

The state has claimed the levy change was necessary to fund organisations such as the SES, which have previously been funded from general revenue.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin, backed by Nationals leader Danny O’Brien, has previously promised that if elected next year, he would “scrap the tax” and return to the existing fire services levy.

Ms Haylett was contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘It is not fair’: Ripon MP Martha Haylett hits out at emergency services tax